This invention rela-tes to new and useful improvements in carpenters tools, and the principal object of the invention isv to provide a highly versatile tool, primarily in the nature of a plane, such as may be convenientlyand effectively employed for rabbeting, beading, chiseling, and similar operations.

The invention is particularly adapted for Working in obstructed or poorly accessible locations, such as for examplaplaning into-corners, and the An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality of knife clamping blades which are usable selectively with the tool,

facilitating the use of a tool as a plane or a chisel, as desired.

Another feature of the invention resides inthe provision of means for adjustably securing the knife to the main body of the tool and in the provision of a guard for the knife when the tool is used as a plane.

An important advantage of the invention lies in its simplicity of construction and in the convenience'with which it may be handled.

With the above4 more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specication proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustratedI in the accompanying drawings, in

which: Y

Figure l is a top plan view of the invention in readiness for use as a plane;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front end View of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4 4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a knife used in the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a combined clamping plate and guard used in the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another clamping plate such as may be used in place of the combined plate and guard shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional View, taken substantially in the plane of the line 8-8 in Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary underside plan View taken substantially in the plane of the line 9--9 in Figure 2, and;

Figure 10 is a side elevational View, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but illustrating the invention in readiness for use as a chisel.

Like characters of reference are employed to (Cl. M- 16) 2 designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail', more particularly to Figures 1-6 inclusively as well as Figures 8 and 9, the invention consists of what may be referred to as a carpenters plane designated generally by the reference character 2G.

The plane 2i) embodies in its construction an elongated body 22 provided wi-th a fiat bottom surface Z4 and with a rearwardly inclined upper surface Z5, the side edge portions of the body 22 projecting above the surface 2t and constituting a pair of spaced parallel guides 28.

It is to be noted that the body 22 terminatesV in Ya sharp forward edge Si), while the rear endI portion of the body assumes the form of a relatively th-in, integrally formed extension 3-2 carrying an upstandin-g bracket 34.

The bracket 34 is provided with a bore 36 in which a screw threaded shank 38 is freely rotatable, the shank 38 being secured in a Suitable handle 45 which, of course, is rotatable with the shank.

Itis to be notedl that the handle 4o engages' one side ofthe bracket 34, while a lock nut 42 is positioned on the shank 38 and is engageable with the relatively opposite side of the bracket, whereby rotation of the shank 3b in the bore 35' may be prevented by simply tightening the nut 42 against the bracket 34.

A blade-like knife 4:4, best shown in the accompanying Figure 5, is slidable longitudinally on the inclinedY surface 26 of the body 22 between the guides' 28, the knife 44 having a widened forward' end portion 4E terminating in a sharp cutting edge 48, while the rear end portion of the knife is provided with a screw threaded lug 50 which is secured thereto by means of a suitable screw 52.

It will be noted from the foregoing that by simply loosening the lock nut 42 and rotating the handle 40 in one direction or the other, the knife 44 may be slid upwardly and downwardly on the surface 26, as desired. The cutting edge 48 of the knife Iprojects somewhat beyond the forward edge 30 of the body 22, and the extent of this projection may be increased or decreased ot vary the depth of cut of the plane, by simply rotating the handle 40.

A combined clamping plate and guard 54, best shown in the accompanying Figure 6, is superimposed on the knife 44, the member 54 as well as the knife 44 being provided with keyhole slots 56, 5B respectively, so as to accommodate a retaining screw which extends upwardly from' the inclined surface 2E of the body 22, as is best shown in Figure 4.

A clamping screw 62 is positioned in a screwthreaded aperture 64 provided in the rear end portion of the combined plate and guard 54, the screw 62 bearing against the knife 44 and thereby urging the forward edge E6 of the member 54 in frictional engagement with the forward edge portion of the knife 44, with the screw 60 acting as a fulcrum for the member 54.

The keyhole slot 58, of course, facilitates 1ongitudinal movement of the knife 44 upon actuation of the handle 40, and the slot 58 as well as the slot 56 facilitate removal of the member 54 and of the member 44 from the body 22, without the necessity of removing the retaining screw 60, as will be understood.

As is best shown in Figure 1, one of the guides 28 of the body 22 terminates at the forward end thereof at 68, while the second guide terminates at its forward end at 18, the forward end 78 being disposed somewhat rearwardly with respect to the forward end 68, so as to accommodate an upwardly arcuated web 72 formed integrally with the member 54. The web 12 is, in turn, formed integrally with a guard 74 disposed forwardly and in spaced relation with respect to the cutting edge 48 of the knife 44, the guard 14 having a lower surface 76 which is disposed substantially in the plane of the under surface 24 of the body 22 when the member 54 is clamped in position on the knife 44, as is best shown in Figures 2 and 4.

It is to be also noted that the web 52 projects downwardly to some extent below the member 54 as indicated at 18, the portion 78 being engageable with the upper surface 26 of the body 22 and assuring that clamping of the member 54 may be properly effected, taking into consideration the thickness of the knife 44.

Referring now to the accompanying Figures 7 and 10, the Figure 7 illustrates a modified form of a clamping plate 80, such as may be used in substituting for the aforementioned combined clamping plate and guard 54, the plate 88, like the member 54, having a forward pressure exerting edge 82 corresponding to the aforementioned edge 66, and being provided with a keyhole slot 84 and with a screw threaded aperture 86 to receive the aforementioned retaining screw 60 and clamping screw 62, respectively.

However, the clamping plate 80 is devoid of the web 72 and guard 14 which are present on the member 54, and accordingly, when the plate 80 is used, the cutting edge 48 of the knife 44 is devoid of forward obstruction, as illustrated in Figure 10, thus not only permitting the plane to be used in corners, but also facilitating the use of the tool in the nature of a chisel.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as Claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a carpenters plane, the combination of an elongated body having front and rear ends and provided with a forwardly sloping upper surface, an upwardly projecting guide provided at one longitudinal edge of said upper surface, an elongated knife positioned on said upper surface and projecting forwardly beyond the front end of said body to provide a transverse cuttingedge, one longitudinal edge of said knife abutting said upwardly projecting guide, an elongated clamping plate superposed on said knife, a downwardly projecting guide provided at one longitudinal edge of said plate, said downwardly projecting guide engaging said base and abutting the remaining longitudinal edge of the knife, and means for attaching said plate and said knife to said body.

WALLACE A. AUBIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: